Attachment for leading bicycles.



G. A. MASON.

' ATTACHMENT FOR LEADING BIGYOLES.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 9. 190B.

Patented; Oct. 26, 1909.

CHESTER A. MASON, OF SPOKANE, WASHINGTON.

ATTACHMENT FOR LEADING BICYCLES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 26, 1909.

Application filed November 9, 1908. Serial No. 461,740.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHESTER A. MASON, citizen of the United States,residing at Spokane, in the county of Spokane and State of WVashington,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Attachments forLeading Bicycles, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to an improved attachment for bicycleswhereby they may be conveniently led behind a vehicle, and while thedevice may be utilized wherever such an arrangement is desired, it hasbeen particularly designed for the use of livcry-men who afterdelivering a rig must either walk back to the stable or pay car fare forriding unless some similar contrivance is provided.

The object of the invention is the provision of a simple and inexpensivebicycle leading attachment which is permanently applied to the bicycleand does not in any manner interfere with the use thereof, but which canbe quickly attached to a vehicle should it be desired to lead thebicycle behind the same.

For a full understanding of the invention and the merits thereof andalso to acquire a knowledge of the details of construction and the meansfor efi'ecting the result, reference is to be had to the followingdescription and accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation showing the bicycle leading attachment asfitted to the rear axle of a vehicle, Fig. 2 is a vertical sectionalView on the line 22 of Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is an enlarged side elevation ofthe outer end of one of the side bars of the attachment, and, Fig. 4c isan enlarged plan view of the outer end of one of the side bars of theattachment.

Corresponding and like parts are referred toin the following descriptionand indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same referencecharacters.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral 1 designates a vehicle and 2 abicycle which is to be led behind the vehicle, the said members being ofany approved construction.

The leading attachment comprises essentially a pair of side bars 3 whichextend along opposite sides of the fork of the bicycle and haveintermediate portions thereof permanently connected in any suitablemanner to the handle bars of the bicycle as indicated at 4. These barsconverge toward the front axle of' the bicycle where they are providedwith strap irons 5 which project beyond the extremities of the bars andare forked for engagement with the axle. It will also-be observed thatthe projecting portions of these strap irons are de' fiected at an angleto the side bars so as to assume a substantially parallel relation toeach other. The opposite ends of the bars 3 which diverge and projectbeyond the handle bars, are designed to be attached to the rear axle ofthe vehicle when the bicycle is being trailed behindthe same. As shownon the drawings, the extremities of the bars rest upon the top of therear axle of the vehicle, blocks 6 which are secured to the end portionsof the bars abutting against the rear face of the axle. Straps 7 whichare secured between the bars 3 and the blocks 6 are designed to extendaround the vehicle axle to hold the leading attachment securely inengagement therewith and after being drawn around the axle are passedthrough keepers 8 and engaged by buckles 9 carried by the side bars. Inthis connection it may be noted that the keepers project from the blocks6 and also aid in securing the said blocks to the side bars. When theattachment has thus been connected to the rear axle of the vehicle, thebicycle is held in a partially upright and inverted position with thefront wheel entirely off of the ground, the rear wheel being designed totravel upon the ground and the frame being perfectly free to swing fromside to side. However, after the straps 7 have been loosened and thebars detached from the vehicle axle, the bicycle may be used in theusual manner, the side bars not interfering in any manner with thecontrol of the operator over the machine.

Should the invention be applied to a vehicle having the springs locatedin such position as will interfere with the placing of the side bars,the latter may be reversed.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

An attachment for leading bicycles from a vehicle, comprising therefor apair of side bars extending along opposite sides of the fork of thevehicle and having intermediate portions thereof secured to the handlebars, one end of each of the side bars being adapted to be detachablyconnected to the front axle of the bicycle while the opposite end isdesigned to bear against the rear axle of the vehicle, a block appliedto the opposite end of each of the side bars for abutting against theside of the vehicle axle, a. keeper projecting from each of the blocksand aiding in securing the block to the side bar, and straps cooperatingWith the blocks to detachably secure the slde bars to the vehicle axle,the

said straps passmg through the keepers, whereby the bicycle may besupported in an inverted position With the rear Wheel thereof trailingupon the ground.

In testimony whereof I atfix my signature in presence of tWo Witnesses.

CHESTER A. MASON. [L. s] Witnesses: I

Roy E. MASON, RILEY GIRTHOFFER.

